Archive for May, 2009

The coolest fair ever, the Maker Faire – science masquerading as art, high tech passing as toys, creative solutions to world problems pretending simply to be fun – is this weekend, May 30 and 31, 2009 in San Mateo, CA.

Get yourself a creative business card holder that reflects both hands-on and high functioning.

Any of you (and your kids) who love crafts, computers, music, making, DIY, tinkering, technology, recycling, building, inventing, collaborating, this is THE place to be. You’ll come away inspired, informed, invigorated and happy. Find suppliers of really unique crafts and tech materials for future projects, websites with cool things to do, and entrepreneurs who have turned hobbies into fun businesses. A “DO NOT MISS” for families.

This year’s theme is Re-Make America, in keeping with President’s Obama‘s call to action for “the risk takers, the doers, and the makers of things” to help re-invent the USA. This is the fourth annual fair, and in past years things that captured my family’s attention were the crazy parts bikes, the motorized giant cupcake-mobiles, Fiddlesticks bendable fabric building sticks, the computerized elaborate egg decorating machine.

Robot Memory Box in Wood - A creative way to store memories of fun events.

I’ve always loathed the term “artsy fartsy” because it seems intentionally disrespectful to those are trying to do something different. If you never try, you’ll never succeed! So I much prefer the term “artsy smartsy” because it better represents what inventors, designers and artists are all about. It certainly sums up this show. Bright ideas and creative execution. Really smart, funny people who express that humor in their art and technological products. I love being an artist and I LOVE this fair!

Have a crafts room or workshop? This Building Tools DIY light switch plate is the perfect finishing touch.

The fair is open 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday and 10:00 – 6:00 p.m. on Sunday at the San Mateo County Expo Center.

Maker Faire Tips:

Buy your tickets off-site or ahead of time online. The crowds keep growing every year and I can only imagine what it will be like this year. Chronicle story in the paper yesterday about it, too.

Come early – lines are long just to get into the parking lot, let alone the door.

All you black sheep out there who are making a living in an unexpected way, here's a wallet that reflects your independence!

Bring food if you don’t like fried, (keep it in an ice chest in your car). Plus you can, once again, avoid long lines. (Although I am hopeful that there might be more of an emphasis on good food with the suggestion that there will be a Farmers Market.) This fair is so fabulous you will be tempted to starve rather than miss anything waiting in a line somewhere!

Wear a hat: Half the events and projects are outside, although this year it looks like it will be overcast most of the day.

Take a quick peek into each building first: Each building has a different theme and you can get stuck in any one of them for hours, so see which one looks like it is most interesting for you and your kids before getting involved. You WILL run out of time and not be able to see or experience everything.

This weekend is the 18th annual Livermore Wine Country Festival right in beautiful historic downtown Livermore, CA. If you haven’t been to Livermore lately, this is a great opportunity to visit the Livermore Valley Wine Country, do some wine tasting and enjoy the atmosphere. Festival hours are 10-6 on Saturday and 10-5 on Sunday and there will be a lot to see and do for both adults and kids. I’m taking my girls and I’m on my way!

A Beer Handbag Holder is a must if you are visiting tasting rooms - keeps your purse where you won't forget it.

The festival is being held on First Street between P and Maple, and on Second Street between N and K Streets. The Sunday morning Farmers’ Market will be going on at the same time on Second Street from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., so you can even get in some healthy food shopping while you’re at it.

For the kids there will be games, rides, activities and water fun. There is also a great toy store on J Street called Whoopsiedaisy Toy Shop that always has creative, unusual toys (and they encourage your kids to play with them!). Older kids can check out the 6TwentyOne Skate Shop.

Many people in the S.F. Bay Area are familiar with downtown Livermore from their very popular Downtown Halloween Night when the local businesses hand out candy to all comers. Livermore has completely redone their downtown with wine streets, trellises, fountains. We have the stunning new performing arts center, movie theater, restaurants and businesses. Livermore is really a nice little town to visit, and if you do like touring wineries and checking out wine tasting rooms, there are more than 40 local wineries right here. So you can really make a day of it when you visit!

Kyle Design of Livermore also has many beautiful wine, beer and arts themed gifts. If you’s like to see more of Kyle’s unique items, visit her web site for Kyle Design’s Wine Gifts, Kyle Design’s Beer Gifts, Kyle Design’s Arts Gifts. You’ll find business card holders, flasks, purse hooks, and so much more with artistic, original designs by local Livermore artist Kyle McKeown Mansfield.

Artist Drinking Flask - A stylish way to hold your liquor, wine and beer on a cool afternoon.

It’s almost Mother’s Day – have you gotten your Mom anything special yet? Looking for unique last minute gifts? If not, Kyle Design can save the day for you with our unique, useful gifts for moms. If you just get some silly, frivolous impulse item from the mall at the last second, your MOM WILL KNOW. There is still time to get your wife, mother or mother-in-law a special gift that shows how much you really care. A present from Kyle Design quietly screams, “A Truly Unique Gift Custom Made for You!”

Mom Rules! Even when things get dramatic! Let her know with a cute Comedy and Tragedy tape measure.

Artistic Gifts Made To Order – Mom will not have seen anything like a gift from Kyle Design before, and better yet, we custom make each item to order with her favorite color, design, silver or gold metal finishes and personalized engraving of choice. We ship within a day, too, and even the same day if you ask, so we can help you get her gift there by Mother’s Day. Can’t beat it!

Fast, Easy, Safe: Mom doesn’t need to know that shopping online at Kyle Design was faster than getting in the car and driving to the mall, easier than searching through racks at a dozen stores (unless you really wanted to get in that 5 mile walk at a noisy mall after work), and a whole lot safer than being around crowds during a swine flu outbreak.

Fresh, Practical Gift Ideas from Kyle Design

So here are just of a few of our many new, useful gift suggestions that might work for your mom:

Give mom a goddess purse hook - then she'll know just how amazing you think she really is.

Purse Hooks – New on the scene, these really practical holders for handbags are a hot item. When mom does have time to get out, make sure she can really relax and have a good time without having to keep an eye on her purse. Handbag holders get her purse off that disgusting restaurant floor, keep her handbag right where she can see it when sitting at a bar. So easy to use – just slip the purse hanger over the edge of a table, bar or desk and hook the purse strap over it. Great for holding umbrellas, digital cameras and shopping bags, too. No more worries! That is the best gift you can give any mom.

A floral business or credit card holder makes a beautiful gift of flowers for mom on Mother's Day.

Credit Card Holders – Our slim, feminine credit card and ID holders are the perfect place for mom to stash her wallet essentials without the bulk – driver’s license, credit cards, ATM card, business cards and a little cash. Keeps mom streamlined and organized. We have hundreds of designs, but if you select a card case with flowers on it – roses, irises, sunflowers, orchids or hibiscus – you’ll be giving mom flowers that last! No need to water, either. This special gift reminds her daily to stop and smell the roses, too.

Bookmarks – Ah, to take a few minutes to read a favorite magazine or a good book – there’s a real luxury in our busy lives. A beautiful book mark that says “I Love You” is a wonderful way to let mom know you love her even when she is taking a break from all the cooking, cleaning, laundry, errands and whatnot required to keep her share of the household running smoothly. Maybe give her that latest best-selling paperback book she’s been wanting to read along with the bookmark and she’ll know you really mean it.

Give your mother a unique bookmark that says "I Love You" every time she looks at it.

Make Mom Happy with a practical gift from Kyle Design that she will really use and enjoy. If you’d like to see more of my fun gifts ideas for mom (available in 100s of designs), please visit Unique Mother’s Day Gift Ideas for Mom where you’ll find so many unusual, innovative gifts made exclusively by Kyle Design. We’ve been in business since 1982 and are known for our beautiful gifts and excellent customer service, so you can be assured that we’ll help you take good care of your Mother. Give us a call at 800-551-5953 between the hours of 9:00-5:00 PST if you’d like any help at all choosing the right gift.